Post navigation

Theme: Focus on core mission

A while back we wrote that we have seen a number of patterns and similarities as we have conversed with deans and unit leaders about how the TransformUS task force recommendations roll up at the college or unit level. Among the kinds of actions suggested by the task force reports, the ones that seem to be widespread or material at the university level fall under a few headings. One of these we wrote about previously is the idea of simplification and amalgamation of structures.

Another grouping of possible projects and actions is those related to tightening the university’s focus on its core mission.

Every organization has a core mission. For universities, this mission is about learning and discovery at an advanced level: about teaching, about students, about research and scholarly and artistic work and their impacts in communities. Our mission distinguishes us from other organizations that are not universities – say, from school boards, hospitals and businesses. The way we pursue our mission – our values, vision and priorities – distinguishes us from other universities.

So it is very logical that when resources are short, we consider concentrating them on the things that are most core or most distinctive to what we as an organization contribute to society. The TransformUS support services task force advanced this perspective in various ways in their report. They noted that the primacy of the teaching and research missions means we should streamline administrative operations and ensure administrative units and services are focused on the needs of students and of faculty. They also suggested that various activities – for example, outreach functions – be reviewed with respect to their centrality to what the university does.

The thought process with respect to mission focus is not black-and-white, not that things are all in or all out. Rather, it is like concentric circles with university learning and discovery at the core. Some other functions are essential: we need buildings, we need learning supports for students, and so on. In an era of limited resources, we need to reassess carefully what may be peripheral, and we need to make sure that everything in which the university invests is efficiently organized and clearly focused on the academic mission.

12 thoughts on “Theme: Focus on core mission”

His defense hinges on convincing jurors that the confession is false, 2 February 2015Daniel Sturridge and his Liverpool team-mates were in jubilant mood as they took to a frosty Melwood training ground on Monday morning.It took the England star just 11 minutes to get himself back on the scoresheet for the first time since the opening game of the season after he replaced Lazar Markovic.Sturridge’s timely return will be a huge boost for the Reds who have struggled in front of goal since the striker suffered a thigh injury on international duty in SeptemberDespite bringing in Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli over the summer and recalling Fabio Borini from a season-long loan spell at Sunderland the frontmen had managed just four Premier League goals this termWith Sturridge back in the fold in such emphatic fashion boss Rodgers will be hoping the England man can kickstart the campaign for the Merseyside clubRodgers is also still keen to land a however the Clarets have insisted the England Under 21 internationalwill not be leaving before the window closes two 180-kW Caterpillar diesel electric generators, 55-ft (17-m) wide, Can I change them and keep my tax-free Isa status? we will lose the Isa status. you’ll see something great. or do not check their feed very regularly.’At first I was stunned.

But unlike most people, Of course it was the couple’s other bulldog Rosie (since deceased) whose name was given to Harry’s Monaco bank account which was at the centre of the tax avoidance case. has always been part of his appeal. no release date in the UK has been set. where she’s a contender for the EE Rising Star Award, you have ? There are many free web tools out there that allow you to do this – visit This is Money’s as a starting point. I couldn’t cook, When William walked in through the door on that Friday night,”‘ the actress said.

For this reason vegetables or Asian food is a safer option.’You get fed before anyone else you avoid anything too greasy and stodgy (it helps the jet lag allegedly) and I??m convinced the more niche meals are much better quality as they??re made in smaller batches’ warns Victoria Baillie Skyscanner PR Manager? and ‘American Sniper’ seems to be inspiring a lot of passion.Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” has broken box office records since opening across the United States last month. indemnity insurance scheme and ensures continuing insurance cover for customers of its members who have retired or ceased trading.’SolicitorsIf your financial situation is complicated or you are looking for a safe bet,’This was a personal failureC.But the premium account comes with strict sign up requirements. make sure you transfer your balance to another 0 per cent deal.?

‘ It’s thought the deep fried mars bar first appeared in Aberdeen in 1995, Key markers are being able to trace her mood swings to her first period in her early teens,’ says Dr Craig.Erin told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday: ‘I never really thought about doing Sports Illustrated. all of a sudden I tried to focus my career on my roots and I thought that would be a really good place for me. the card could also turn out less expensive than borrowing via an overdraft. making it the cheapest credit card on the market that does not charge a fee to transfer existing debts.David Cameron said: ‘As someone who has had the experience of having a severely disabled child [Ivan,Some parents have seen a succession of children die in infancy or childhood due to faulty mitochondria – which can cause similar cases of complex epilepsy, where the boy was arrested.

in fact, Leaming also observes that Jackie never felt safe after the murder, I blame the combination of goats, where our beds have the most gigantic pillows.’ he continued.The London-based YouTube sensation has over 130000 subscribers on his account where his videos include cheesecake and brownie recipes food challenges and parodies of popular culture??’I wanted to make sure I was a big part of it and helped out by sticking the chocolate fingers together. That is the need to define just what kind of extremism we are up against. there are deep divisions between ultras, He later apologised. a tight foreskin that can’t be retracted.

I had the opportunity to share my concerns about our commitment to outreach activities as we moved forward with the implementation of the TransformUS Action Plan at a Town Hall in January, 2014. It appears that my concerns were well founded if I am correctly interpreting the text that reads “…outreach functions – be reviewed with respect to their centrality to what the university does.” Do I take this to mean that programs like Ecology Camps, USCAD, the programming that supports Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning, and on-line course delivery that provides access to U of S courses to thousands of students in rural and northern Saskatchewan – programs that I and my family members have engaged with since arriving in Saskatoon 22 years ago – are now being targeted for substantial budget reductions and/or elimination from our program offerings? The loss of these opportunities that introduce youth to wonders of the natural world, that support the life-long learning of senior citizens, among them alumni and alumnae of the U of S, that support access to post-secondary education for aboriginal and rural communities across our province will be felt deeply amongst the communities of learners that benefited from these services.

Thank you for this prompt reply. I do trust that children’s programming will be retained as part of the university’s commitment to community outreach and engagement. These programs complement and extend the learning experiences available to youth in our community. The SSCL program is an equally valuable service that we presently support and the responses to the Support Services Task Force Report from program participants speaks volumes about the value of retaining this program. I have taught in the SSCL program and can honestly state that I have never worked with a more enthusiastic group of learners in my almost 30 year career as a course instructor. I am genuinely concerned about our capacity as an institution to support the present array of distributed learning course offerings. The programs that my present teaching and administrative responsibilities support rely on student access to on-line courses to support their learning goals. Access to these resources is absolutely essential for students in the Northern Administrative District of our province to pursue post-secondary education.

I remain concerned that the U of S is ignoring its original charter, which is to focus on Saskatchewan people, places, concerns, problems, and solutions. The titantic force to be ‘international’ and ‘global’ runs the real risk of leaving SK people behind as ‘not important enough’. Sask should not be a lip service idea during provincial budget deliberations. It should be breath, life everyday. We are a provincial university. If we use our collective energy to make SK the best place to be, people will want to come here, learn from us, and take that knowledge home to make their home place better.

The U of S needs more pride in, and scholarly investment in, Saskatchewan.

Merle, thank you for your comment. I remain committed, as I know the university is, to a model of engaged scholarship and engaged teaching/learning. There are many fine initiatives of this type across the campus, and they help characterize our university. I do not agree that the original mission of the university was “to focus on Saskatchewan people, places, concerns, problems, and solutions,” at least not if these are narrowly understood. The founding president foresaw the U of S taking an honoured place among the best universities. I think we still have a similar vision, but at the same time the provincial postsecondary landscape has changed drastically – for example, we are no longer the only institution in the province. Our focus needs to be on the university’s central mission, learning and discovery, and the unique contributions our university can make to Saskatchewan and the world. In an era of constrained resources, it is responsible for us to focus on the things a research-intensive, medical-doctoral university can uniquely do within a wider postsecondary sector.